Georgetown McDonough Global Social Enterprise Initiative Launches Executive In Residence Program

The Global Social Enterprise Initiative (GSEI) at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business has launched a new Executive in Residence program this fall, welcoming Melissa L. Bradley, chief executive officer of Tides, and Edward Martin, director of marketing excellence and corporate social responsiblity insights at the Hershey Company, as Executives in Residence for the 2012-13 academic year.

Total Portfolio Activation - A Framework for Creating Social and Environmental Impact across Asset Classes

Tides and Trillium Asset Management, LLC (Trillium)  announce today the publication of a new white paper, Total Portfolio Activation - A Framework for Creating Social and Environmental Impact across Asset Classes.

Dispatches from the Field | Impact Investing 101 in Asia

On the heels of a week-long trip to India and subsequent Impact Investment Exchange Asia (IIX) conference in Singapore, I returned to San Francisco inspired by extraordinary change agents who are actively building the field of impact investing. From social entrepreneurs to nonprofit leaders to activists, the grit with which these innovators are tackling poverty via market-driven solutions to health, education, and employment is truly remarkable—and offers lessons for early US efforts as well.

Ultimate Impact: Unifying an Investment Portfolio Within a Donor-Advised Fund

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) have grown in use over recent decades, serving as the core philanthropic vehicle for community and public foundations and, more recently, being offered through commercial investment firms as a philanthropic option for clients. When linked with an impact investing strategy, the DAF may serve as a unique, focused asset management vehicle for creating a unified portfolio generating financial performance with social and environmental impacts. This Issue Brief introduces the concept and structure of DAFs and explores their potential as impact investing vehicles. The DAF as a core component of a unified investment approach is explored together with discussion of why DAFs are especially suited to impact investing. The potential for DAFs to expand options for impact investors is discussed along with possible barriers to their introduction

One Day After Peace: A film by Robi Damelin

Could you forgive somebody who has done you wrong? Performed such an egregious act that it leaves your scarred for the remainder of your days?  The notion of reconciliation is explored in a fascinating and moving film by Robi Damelin.

More U.S. Philanthropies Pledge to Champion and Empower the Poor, Minorities and Other Underserved Groups

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2012  -- At one year anniversary, Philanthropy's Promise continues to gain momentum with 61 new foundations signing on to prioritize marginalized communities

Some 125 leading U.S. foundations that represent a total of more than $3.37 billion in annual giving pledged to prioritize the needs and promote the democratic participation of underserved communities such as the poor, the elderly and LGBTQ citizens through Philanthropy's Promise, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy announced...

Live from Rio+20, Day Two: "Favelas and Protests"

This morning I ventured the opposite direction from Rio Centro where the UN Rio+20 negotiations are taking place, and travelled with colleagues to the Cachoeirinha (I was told it means “waterfall”) Favela in Rio de Janeiro. These shantytowns are quite common in Rio, well over one million strong, located within and around the city limits.

Live from Rio+20, Day One: Women and Reproductive Health

This week begins the major UN Rio+20 “Earth Summit”, and I’ve just arrived at the sprawling “Rio Centro” complex where the official UN negotiations and many non-governmental organizations’ (NGOs) side-events are taking place.  While here for the duration of the meeting, I’ll be covering women and reproductive health (RH) issues as relate to the official UN proceedings, the NGO perspectives, and global south women’s personal stories on how Rio+20 touches their lives.

Race is NOT Just a Number

The Pew Research Center released their report, “The Rise of Asian Americans,” today, June 19, 2012 – the 30th anniversary of the fatal beating of Vincent Chin at the hands of Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz, which led to Chin's death four days later and only a small fine for Ebens and Nitz (neither of whom have spent a single day in jail, for the record).  In some ways, I couldn’t think of a more ironic juxtaposition that highlights that we still live in an age where there is xenophobic fear of an “Asian Invasion”...

New Study Cites Changing Demographics and Trends in Digital Game Play

Increase in Use by Women and Children Offers Digital Games Industry the Opportunity to Improve Kids’ Health & Education, says The Children’s Partnership

Santa Monica, CA—On June 7th, The Children’s Partnership released Game Companies & Social Responsibility: The Time is Now, the result of a yearlong study of the $25.1 billion digital game industry and its current—and potential—participation in social responsibility efforts. Released during the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the report provides a focused...